Tracking a blood trail

While we were on our walk and looking for sheds, we can onto a deer trail that had some blood!  The hunter in all three of us kicked into high gear and we started walking slowly, hunched over like a detective with a magnifying glass looking for clues.

The first blood spot we noticed.

A close up of the first spot we noticed.  

Maybe a cut above the hoof?

If we had had enough time, we would have back tracked to see if there was more blood in the opposite direction than the one we traveled.  We could not find many more drops between steps and once we got to the stream, we decided to just keep going and head back.

Just another example of something unexpected and interesting you find in the woods.

In search of sheds

Dad, Hubby and I set off to see if we could find some sheds.  Dad has found them before but I really wanted to see what sort of bucks lived through the season.  On Saturday, with a light snow falling, we took to the woods.

A very active deer trail

Dad had been out doing some cutting and had found a rib cage (sorry that I forgot to take a photo of that!) but he was not sure if it was a coyote or a fawn.  He also found a strip of hide.

 Frozen deer hide

We headed towards my tree seat to hop on some deer trails in search of sheds but also, to check out the improved shooting lanes that Dad cut for me.  I have already been told that I will be spending a lot of time in my tree seat next fall, so Dad wanted to make sure that I would be able to see any deer within shooting range from where I sit.  No more messing with large, thick evergreen coverings.

Cleaner and longer shooting lanes ready for the fall

 We walked along the shooting lanes and it was as though we had entered the bathroom of the entire deer herd! Everywhere we stepped we saw had well known little black pellets, yellow snow or deer beds.  Lots and lots of deer beds.

Two deer beds

We crossed the stream into some thicker woods and stayed on the deer trails as best we could.  The snow had added a layer to the crust that we tried to stay on top of.  Every once in a while, one of us would catch a patch of ice or crunch through the crust.  It made for some cautious trackers.

Crossing the frozen stream.

 What I was happy and not happy to see, were the rubs all over the place.  They were from the fall, but it was nice to know that the bucks we were seeing on the trail cameras were staying pretty close to where my seat is.  Frustrating that I never saw one when I was sitting in the tree with my gun, but  nice to know that they are staying so close.

More barred owl pictures

More photos of the barred owl.  I love that you can see its face.  It makes me want to get back out in the woods.

If only I had been in my tree stand

This snowy owl is about eye level for me, had I been sitting in my tree seat.  Dad and I see owls every year when we are hunting but they are usually barred owls.  The last time we saw a snowy owl was in 1998 when we had a massive ice storm.  We had three pictures of this guy and then he was gone. 

I am going to hunt geese!

Photo from Ducks.org

While drinking coffee and reading the latest issue of Ducks Unlimited, I decided that I want to shoot a goose.  I know nothing about it; not what type of gun and ammo to use or how close I need to be.  I did learned that the season in Maine is the fall, which will work well for my schedule and learning curve.

When I was younger, my neighbor and I would track geese in the corn fields.  We were not trying to hurt the birds, just wanted to see how close we could get.  At our best, we got within 20 feet of a flock of snow geese before they saw up coming up over the knoll. The thunderous sound of the birds taking off was startling and amazing. 

I have never shot a bird, only deer.  Dad and I will go turkey hunting again this spring, but I think I want to learn how to hunt geese. 

Any tips or comments that I should know before I jump into this new adventure?

Name that cat

Dad saw a lynx in this area about five years ago... so don't rule it out... is this a lynx? a bobcat?
This is the first time we have had a cat on any of the trail cameras... and luckily enough, the deer did not disappear because of it.  Can you please let me know what cat this is?  Thanks!